Latest Blog Posts

Latest Blog Posts

Santa Claus beckoned. Game face on, I approached the jolly man in the red suit. Securely seated on his velvet lap, I whispered my wishes. Cinnamon spices and pine cones scented the air with Christmas. The photographer’s camera flashed and the elf firmly escorted me off Santa’s lap. In a daze from the magical encounter, I’d grasp my Japanese nanny’s hand. Would Santa bring the desired dolly? My nanny, Kawaji-san, assured... Read Full Article

Holiday flurries bring happiness, hope....And recipes guaranteed to bring on a sugar rush and blues! The sparkly stuff sure is tempting. But, Michael Symon’s 5 in 5 has come to the rescue!!! Thanks to Blogging for Books, I received the 5 in 5 cookbook by the co-host of The Chew. (Michael Symon - as you may know - is also an Iron Chef.)
Heart Happy Holiday Treats: Gluten-Free Protein Bars
The stellar food photography and... Read Full Article

“Pick up happy. Pick up Pretz!” So goes the commercial for the popular Japanese savory snack stick.
Since 1962, Japanese have picked up Pretz at snack time.
Pretz is a newcomer on most American market snack aisles. The “lightly salted” (asari shio) original version is found in US markets. Hawaii is the exception. The 50th state has a pineapple flavor Pretz in their supermarkets. In Japan,... Read Full Article

Thanksgiving – a mostly gluten-free one – came early this year. Close family gathered around the table. We said Grace. Each person then shared memories of my mother. Mom crossed over a few weeks ago. She was born in Northern California. It’s fitting that 90 years later, the last stop on her Wimbledon tennis star adventures was Novato, California.
My six-year-old great-nephew, Ethan, summed it up best. When told of my... Read Full Article

Café 212 Pier: Superfoods and Supernovas
カフエ212ピアー：スーパーフード、超新星
*Note: Superfoods are naturally vitamin laden and rich with minerals.
*ご参考までに、スーパーフードはミネラルとかビタミンがたくさんある食です。
Superfood vegan chocolates charged with
vitamins, minerals and super-deliciousness!
スーパーフードチョコレート
Imagine Christmas, Thanksgiving and the 4th of July all rolled up into one holiday. India’s days-long Diwali, the Festival of Lights is that kind of... Read Full Article

Glico USA kindly provided Pocky for this post. All opinions are my own. Scroll down for details on the giveaway.
Cookies & Cream Pocky Cat Cupcakes
Spooks and black cats may soon alight upon your doorstep demanding a Halloween treat. Given the Star Wars revival, Stormtroopers and Princess Leias will also inevitably appear. (Probably a Trump or two, too!)
Want to make the Halloween mini monsters happy? Present Japanese Pocky.... Read Full Article

The Cake Slice Bakers are a group of bakers from around the world. Laura of Baking in Pyjamas and Anabel of Oven Delights lead the charge to conquer a new challenge every month...Currently, we are presented with the opportunity to bake one of four preselected recipes from The Southern Cake Book.
This Ninja Baker chose Lemon Coconut Loaf Cake for this month's Cake Slice Bakers' challenge.
Happiness blooms:... Read Full Article

Joy! Chocolate Almond Joy! Ah, that coveted American candy bar with the luscious coating of chocolate over coconut and almonds.
In Japan, Almond Joy slipped into my hands on 3 occasions.
A military connection sneaked the Almond Joy off base and into my hands.
A stop at Guam (an American territory) en route to our Christmas holiday on Saipan. (One of the Micronesian Islands.)
Summer vacation in the States.
Believe it... Read Full Article